I didn't know what to expect from Flown as I sat in the Theatre Royal, sandwiched between two strangers. All I was aware was that the show was part of the Brighton Festival, which honours talent in a characteristically Brightonian way.
Flown didn't disappoint. It's an irreverent and quirky circus production that carefully choreographed "mistakes" and stunts into a stunning showcase that had me holding my breath, both in awe and in fear.
From acrobats with hula hoops to stuntmen with their trousers round their ankles and performers tangled in the set design, Flown was captivating and entertaining.
Among the chaos there were pockets of beauty as we watched crazy contortions and free falls. The audience was moved to silence by the exquisite solo of a diminutive dancer who catapulted herself onto a suspended beam and seemed to halt time.
The choreographed chaos of the show reminded me of the chaos I've experienced as an international student. When I arrived at Sussex, it felt like I was being pushed onto a new and unfamiliar stage. There were the expectations of my lecturers and parents back at home, much like an audience, and I wanted to perform well.
Like any other international student, I've had moments of freedom to explore my new surroundings, and moments when my strength was tested. I made mistakes which I frantically tried to fix.
Watching Flown though, reminded me that mistakes can actually lead to something positive, particularly if you can learn from and build on them in future. If you can tackle them with grace and flair, even better. Why would you choose to do it in any other way?
Some of Wanjiru's fellow University of Sussex students captured their highlights from the 2014 Brighton Festival on camera: click here to see the gallery.
